Tower District businesses help neighborhood fire victims

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Tower District businesses are working together to help families impacted by fires last week. Ten people lost their homes after four separate fires broke out in the nearby neighborhood.

The Red Cross provided assistance to the families, but organizers of Thursday's community barbecue say they still need help. They called on community members to bring any items to donate, from clothing to beds and dressers. After the fires, business owners started talking on social media to figure out a way to help out.

Lupe Oftedal, an organizer of the event, said, "All we hear and see on Facebook or just word of mouth is always negative about the Tower. But we're not. We're one big happy family. We help each other out in time of need, through the good and the bad. We're here to help each other, but we wanted to put something out there that's positive and not negative."

Anything remaining from Thursday's event will be donated to local thrift stores. null